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      10. RASHI METHOD: SYMBOLISM
      BRIEF EXPLANATION: Rashi provides symbolic interpretations of words, verses, and chapters. Rashi can symbolically interpret either
      • (10a) entire Biblical chapters such as the gifts of the princes, Nu-07
      • (10b) individual items, verses and words
      The rules governing symbolism and symbolic interpretation are presented in detail on my website.

      This examples applies to Rashis Gn41-01b Gn41-02a Gn41-03a Gn41-04a
      URL Reference: (c) http://www.Rashiyomi.com/w34n24.htm
      Brief Summary: We provide a LINEAR SYMBOLIC translation of Pharoh's dream about the 7 years of plenty and 7 years of starvation.

We are all familiar with the basic idea of Pharoh's dreams. Pharoh dreamt of 7 thin cows devouring 7 plump cows. Joseph symbolically interpreted this to mean that 7 years of starvation would come and make people forget the 7 years of plenty which had preceded them. In the table below we provide a linear symbolic translation of Pharoh's dream and its interpretation.

Verse text Symbolic interpretation Source
Pharoh stood on the Nile Pharoh reviewed the Egyptian economy Gn41-01b
And from the river from the economy Gn41-01b
there arose 7 cows there arose 7 years Numerical symbolism
good looking and plump good years with plenty to eat Gn41-02a
grazing in the meadow with brotherhood and no economic jealousy Gn41-02b
But then 7 other cows came after them 7 other years followed them
bad looking and thin bad years with little to eat Analogy with Gn41-02a
and they stood by the cows on the river bank Two sets of years affected the economy but Gn41-04a
the bad looking cows consumed the good looking cows the bad years made people forget the good years Gn41-04a

Advanced Rashi: The above table uses the so called linear translation method. This method was introduced (or popularized) by Rabbi Dr. Benjamin Sharfman in his Linear Translation of the Bible and Rashi. Rabbi Sharfman's linear translation is still very popular among those who are beginners in learning Rashi. Rabbi Sharfman was in fact Rabbi of my synaggoue when I was young and I spent many enjoyable Shabbath afternoons


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